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Question 60 of 78 · Union Executive: President, VP & PM
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The first Deputy Prime Minister of India was:

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Answer: Option D — Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Detailed Solution

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was the first Deputy Prime Minister of India, holding the post from 15 August 1947 until his death on 15 December 1950. He also held the portfolios of Home Affairs and States.

Patel's role in the first government:

  • As Home Minister, he was responsible for maintaining law and order during the violent period after partition.
  • He handled the resettlement of refugees.
  • As Minister of States, he led the integration of the princely states into the Indian Union.
  • He played a key role in creating the Indian Administrative Service and the Indian Police Service, calling the all-India services the "steel frame" of administration.

Relationship with Nehru:

  • Patel and Nehru were the two most important leaders of the Congress after Gandhi.
  • They had differences on some issues, such as Kashmir, Tibet and economic policy, but worked together.

Death:

Patel died on 15 December 1950 in Bombay.

The office of Deputy Prime Minister:

  • It is not mentioned in the Constitution.
  • A Deputy Prime Minister is a senior minister appointed for political reasons, and his powers depend on the Prime Minister.

Deputy Prime Ministers of India:

  • Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (1947 to 1950).
  • Morarji Desai (1967 to 1969).
  • Charan Singh and Jagjivan Ram (1979).

Y.B. Chavan (1979 to 1980).

Devi Lal (1989 to 1991).

L.K. Advani (2002 to 2004).

Honours:

  • Patel was awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1991.
  • His birthday, 31 October, is celebrated as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas.
  • The Statue of Unity in Gujarat honours him.

Why not the other options?

  • ✗Morarji Desai, Charan Singh and Jagjivan Ram were later Deputy Prime Ministers.

Quick tip

Remember: First Deputy PM = Sardar Patel (1947 to 1950); also Home Minister and Minister of States.

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Union Executive: President, VP & PM — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of Union Executive: President, VP & PM, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

This topic covers the Union Executive: the President, the Vice-President, the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, and the Attorney General. It includes their election or appointment, qualifications, powers, removal, and the relationship between the President and the Council of Ministers. Common questions cover the electoral college that elects the President, impeachment under Article 61, the President's ordinance-making power (Article 123) and pardoning power (Article 72), and the fact that the Vice-President is the ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Lists of past Presidents and Prime Ministers are also tested. Practise the Union Executive questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.

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